Octavia paced the hospital waiting room, praying to Equestria's princesses that she would hear good news. She had known that there was something strange about Vinyl. Her 'odd jobs' that seemed to go on until all hours of the morning, or the way she never removed her sunglasses. Octavia hated herself for never piecing everything together. If only she had realized it sooner, maybe she could have helped her. But no, Octavia had ignored the signs for years, and now she was paying the price.
"You're Miss Philharmonica, I presume?" a voice said and the grey mare flipped around - turning to face a nurse in the doorway.
"Yes." Octavia replied, with a shaking tone to her voice. "Vinyl... how is she? What is it?"
The earth pony nurse with the name of 'Redheart' sewn in on her hospital work appearal let out a sigh. "She's alive." Octavia muttered a quick thank you to Celestia, only for the nurse to continue. "However-" Redheart hesitated and bit her lip. "The doctors found some... substances in her system. We've only identified very few of them - but most seem deadly and not to be put in a regular pony's system. Others look like they've been abused."
"What?" the cellist breathed, blinking slowly. "What do you mean... substances?"
The earth pony tried to think positive. It could be something curable. They could cut the stuff out and Vinyl would be fine.
"Well, the ones we've found include mareijuana, coltcaine, and buck." The Nurse named the substances as easily as most ponies could name the Apple Family. Octavia let out a small squeak. The nurse had said that they shouldn't be in a pony's system. The thought of all those deadly things flowing through Vinyl's blood... "Along with some prescription drugs that weren't needed for her but-"
"Can I see her?"
"Excuse me?"
Octavia stuttered over her words and let out a deep exhale. "Vinyl. Please - let me see her." Despite the cellist's desire not to look weak, tears formed in her lavender eyes and she blinked them back.
"She's asleep, you know." Redheart responded slowly.
"I still want to see her." Octavia tried to put the Philharmonica persuasion into her voice, but the way tears were choking her, she doubted it had the desired effect. Redheart gave Octavia a look, but eventually swished her tail.
"Follow me," the mare said, walking into the back room.
"Is she... stable?" the grey pony questioned.
"At this stage?" the nurse replied, only to ever-so-slightly hesitate. "We're not quite sure. She's here now but... well... no guarantees she'll make it out of here." The cellist's fallen expression was literally heart-breaking. "I assume you didn't know anything about this?"
Octavia refused to speak and gave but a simple yet somber nod.
"She's in here." Redheart pushed open a door where a very sick looking unicorn was hooked to about a million different machines.
"Vinyl," Octavia whispered, rushing to the DJ's side. "Oh, Vinyl..."
The classical mare placed a grey hoof over one of her lover's snow white ones and let out a gasp at the sight of the unicorn's face. No wonder she always wore those gaudy shades - it hid the dramatic difference. Vinyl Scratch was definitely not the mare she used to be. Her face was sunken, the area around her eyes were surrounded with dark circles and she looked so completely lifeless and weak. Vulnerable. Sick - which didn't even begin to cover her condition and Octavia could feel bone as she clutched Vinyl's hoof for dear life. The mare had lost so much weight since they had met their senior year of high school. The once rather plump mare was now stick thin, her ribs showing through her sides.
...What had driven that lovable yet slightly insane DJ to do such a thing?
'Drugs? Really, Vinyl?' Octavia said to herself, tears stinging her eyes. 'Why?'
Octavia had always thought that only ponies with nothing turned to drugs. She never would have dreamed that her Vinyl Scratch would get to such a terrible place. The light beeping of machines was the eerie electronic melody echoing through the small hospital room, and it was the only sign that Vinyl was still going to make it... hopefully.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Octavia asked in a low whisper. "I could have helped you."
Vinyl didn't answer. Not that Octavia had expected her to.
"Don't you dare leave me." the grey mare whispered. "Please." She laid her head down and cried, never letting go of Vinyl's hoof - until one of the machines ceased in their beeping and in that same moment, doctors rushed into the hospital room.
"Who are you?" one of them spat. "Ah, no matter. Get her out of here!"
Within the blink of an eye, Octavia was forced out and the moment that the door was slammed right in front of her face, she broke down completely, wailing and burying her face in her hooves; beginning to pray once more.
"I need you back, Vinyl." she muttered. "Please be alright."
And as if it were the DJ in question was right there, Octavia could hear in her mind the reply.
Regret. Depression. Pain. The only emotions that coursed throughout Vinyl's being. What had she done? Why couldn't words be taken back? ...Why weren't there second chances in life? And now, crying echoed the tiny apartment - driving a bullet through the unicorn's chest. For days it had been like this. Octavia had locked herself in their room, and hadn't come out since. She just stayed there, crying and sleeping.
Vinyl had looked up time travel spells, but she knew she had seriously messed up this time. Nothing would fix what had happened. Even magic couldn't fix it, and that was saying a lot.
And out of all the stupid things she had done in her life, that certainly was the worst of them all.
"Wh-what?"
"Um, well-" Octavia hesitated, still avoiding eye contact with the DJ across the way from her. "I... well, we're going to be mothers, Vinyl."
The alabaster mare blinked slowly and smirked, "Are you trying to prank me, Tavi? Really?" She let out a chuckle. "I gotta say, that really was a good one, I mean, you almost had me there, but-"
"Vinyl." the cellist said sternly. "I'm serious. I'm pregnant. With your foal."
The DJ raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "No. No way. Impossible." she muttered. "You must've got a faulty result or something. How could you even end up with my kid anyway?"
"Simple." Octavia declared. "Unicorn magic."
The snow white mare laughed awkwardly and gave a nonchalant shrug. "Right... you know, it doesn't really do all the stuff I say it does."
"Unicorn magic can, when used... intimately, so to speak, it can impregnate a pony. Even if it is two mares. I looked it up when I found out I was, well, expecting." the cellist declared, giving an anxious smile.
Vinyl froze and adjusted her shades nervously. "Well-" she hesitated, fumbling over her words. "What, er, do you wanna do with, um... it? Y'know. The foal. You gonna keep it?"
Octavia recoiled as if she had just been slapped and scowled. "What else do you think I'm going to do?!" she snapped. "It's an innocent life, and not to mention, our child!"
"Yeah, but, y'know-" the DJ stuttered. "We're kinda young to be moms, don'tcha think? And we've got our music careers. A kid's just gonna slow it all down and-"
"I can't believe you." the grey mare said coldly.
"Tavi, we're barely twenty. Most ponies usually get married for like, four years before even thinking about foals. Then they turn like, thirty and have some kids."
Octavia's enchanting lavender eyes now shot daggers at Vinyl. "Are you telling me that you don't want our foal?"
"I'm just saying that I'm not ready for a foal. I wanna be famous, out there, before I have a kid." the DJ stammered.
A moment of silence passed before the earth pony mare let out a deep sigh and shook her head. "Well, like it or not, this is happening. I'm keeping this foal."
"But Tavi, what about your-" Vinyl began only before the cellist cut her off.
"My own child is much more important than a dream, Vinyl." Octavia snapped. "As for you, I suppose not."
The DJ hesitated, stammering over her words. "Octavia, it's not just a dream. It's what we've been wanting our whole lives. And... and you're just gonna give it all up for an accident?"
An awkward silence passed between the two mares only before the grey mare's expression twisted into such anger, she looked like she was about to literally flip a table. Instead, she tried her hardest to compose herself and let out a deep breath, but nonetheless snapping at the unicorn. "An accident?! Really, Vinyl?! That's what you're calling our child?!"
Vinyl blinked slowly. "It's... y'know, it's not like we meant to create it or anything."
Octavia choked back tears and shook her head disapprovingly. "That's cruel, Vinyl. What if your parents had decided to give up on you just because they didn't feel like being parents?"
"My parents did give up on me." the DJ shot back. "I turned out fine."
"Alright, what if they murdered you before you were born? How about that then?"
The alabaster mare stammered over her words and scoffed. "Murder's a pretty harsh word, don'tcha think, Tavi?"
"That's exactly what it is, Vinyl. It's murder. Destroying a life before it has a chance to live."
"It isn't like that!" Vinyl protested.
Octavia froze and became rigid, avoiding gaze with the mare across the way from her. "Well, it doesn't matter what you think." she seethed. "I'm the one carrying it and I'm keeping it. And seeing how you're the other parent - you're going to be involved with the child, like a responsible mother."
"Aw, c'mon, Octavia, it's not like that, it's-"
"This discussion is over."
Vinyl cursed herself for being so stupid. If she hadn't been so determined to hate the situation, things would have been okay. Karma really was a bitch.
Octavia's sobs continued. Vinyl was surprised her marefriend had any tears left. Since they found out, Octavia had been in their room crying. She hadn't eaten, she hadn't slept. She had just cried.
"Vinyl, what are you, five?" Octavia spat, narrowing her gaze at the unicorn, who refused to sit still.
The DJ rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses and let out a sigh. "How much longer are we supposed to wait?" she muttered. "Come to think of it, why are we even here? Can't we just figure out the gender of the foal once it's born?"
"I thought it'd be better to know before hoof." the cellist said simply. "I don't see the big deal. My only problem is that you're so impatient."
The alabaster mare scoffed and ignored the grey mare sitting beside her as the almost eerie silence of the doctor's office filled the spot between them. Five months of Octavia's pregnancy sure did fly by and there were only six more to go until their little filly or colt would come into this world. And it's not like Vinyl didn't care - it was the fact that her marefriend still held a grudge against her for what had happened a while back. The wild unicorn was terrified of being a mother - or not a good enough one at that - although she did care about her unborn child. The main fear was though that she could barely take care of herself, so how could she manage a kid?
"Miss Philharmonica? Miss Scratch?" a nurse said from the doorway, beckoning the two mares in question to look up. "Well..." The mare in hospital appearal lifted up her clipboard with her magic and let out a sigh. "You two better come back here."
Sharing equally confused glances, Vinyl and Octavia got up from their seats, following the nurse to a back room where she placed down the information and let out a sigh.
"You are both the mothers of this foal, right?"
"Yes, we are indeed." the cellist said, with a small smile.
"Might I ask how exactly you created the child?" the nurse inquired, raising an eyebrow.
A light blush crossed Octavia's cheeks. "Unicorn magic." she replied sheepishly.
"I had figured." the hospital worker smirked, only before her grin was instantly wiped away and replaced with a more somber expression. "It was a filly."
'A filly?' Vinyl thought, raising an eyebrow and giving a smile. Oddly enough, she could sort of already see it. 'Earth pony, probably, Tavi said it's been an unbroken trait in her family for years. And she'd probably have her mane too. She'll be my little DJ. I'll teach her everything I know and I'll be the coolest mom ever.'
"I'm sorry, did you say... was?" Octavia said, breaking Vinyl's thought along with the awkward silence in the room.
"I'm afraid so." the nurse said. "You see, I'm not so sure if you know this, but... not many magically developed foals are actually born."
Octavia's head turned to the side slightly. "You mean..." The cellist gasped and Vinyl looked to the nurse, not following.
"I'm sorry, I'm not the smartest of ponies... can somepony tell me what's going on here?"
"Well, Vinyl," Octavia choked out, tears brimming her lavender eyes. "Looks like you got your wish."
The DJ's expression of confusion only increased more so as her eyebrows knit. "What do you mean?" she inquired, only for her marefriend to brush past her and storm out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
The nurse hesitated, letting out a sigh. "Miss Scratch, it seems that your foal... didn't make it. Your partner there had a miscarriage."
Vinyl may not have been good with words, but 'miscarriage' was one that everypony in Equestria knew.
"No..." Vinyl shook her head. She hadn't really wanted the foal to be gone. She had just been scared.
"Are you serious?" she whispered.
The nurse gave a somber nod. "I'm sorry."
Blinking slowly, the alabaster mare felt a certain part of her die inside. Like somepony had taken out a chunk of her heart and soul - the part of her feelings - and crushed it. She didn't even know that little filly and yet... it seemed she already missed her.
There was no coaxing Octavia out of her room at all. Vinyl seriously was beginning to worry. It had been a whole week since they got the news.
"Tavi, come on. You can't stay in here forever."
"Yes I can, Vinyl, and I plan to." The grey mare said with a sniff.
"Tavi, please?"
"No."
"Tavi, this isn't anypony's fault. The nurse said that magical conceptions only have a one in like, twelve chance of working properly."
"I don't care."
Vinyl let out a sigh, using her magic to fiddle with the doorknob and realized that Octavia didn't even bother to lock the door. This whole time...
"Tavi, c'mon, lemme in. I just wanna talk."
"About what?" the cellist snapped from inside the room. "There's nothing to say."
"We should talk. Talking helps." If teenage Vinyl had heard those words, there would have been a meltdown. Teenage Vinyl didn't like talking. Big grown-up Vinyl, however, needed to try anything that would help her marefriend.
"I don't feel like it."
"Tavi..."
"Go away, Vinyl." Octavia's words were cold as ice and definitely had the signature Philharmonica seriousness to them, but it didn't matter.
"Alright then." the DJ muttered, swinging open the door carelessly and striding in, only to nearly gawk at the sight of her love, curled on the bed, sniffling like a filly and looking like an absolute wreck. Her ebony mane was frizzed and unkept, her usually sparkling lavender eyes were no more - replaced with tired and weary - and her expression looked completely and utterly broken.
"Tavi..." Vinyl's voice cracked. Her usually perfect marefriend was...well, gone.
"I thought-" Octavia sniffled and glanced up at the shocked unicorn. "I thought I told you to leave me alone."
"Oh-no. No. No way." the alabaster mare declared. "No way in Tartarus am I leaving you now." Vinyl scurried over to the cellist, crawling up on the bed, snuggling close to the grey mare, who gave a light whimper of protest.
"Why do you even care?" she rasped.
"It was my foal too." Vinyl said in a small voice. Octavia looked to the DJ.
"I thought," she sniffed. "I thought you didn't want a foal?"
"At first, yeah." the unicorn murmured. "But after a while, I cared about it. Like I said, it was my kid." Vinyl tried not to think about raising a filly. She tried to keep out thoughts of a miniature Vinyl wearing too-big shades and messing with records. Even the thought of a mini-Octavia brought tears to the DJ's eyes.
"You seemed so...against having a child though." the cellist whimpered.
"I guess my being immature got the best of me." the DJ sighed, holding her still sobbing marefriend close. "I'm sorry. I miss her too." Vinyl added, finally letting the emotion take hold. She began to cry and this time, Octavia comforted Vinyl. Usually, the DJ would protest, but right now, they needed each other.
They were going to hurt, probably forever, but right now, they could rely on each other. They would always have each other. Vinyl wasn't a smart pony, but she knew she loved Octavia. There would always be more opportunities to be parents.
Vinyl leaned into Octavia's shoulder with a sigh. The cellist ran a hoof through her marefriend's mane. They sat in silence. Vinyl thought about the possible future she could have had. Octavia cried silently. Vinyl looked upwards, towards the celing. She had seen ponies do that when they lost a loved one.
You up there, filly? Vinyl asked silently. If you are, and you're listening, just know that Mama Scratch loves you, okay? Mama Tavi loves you too, but you already knew that. Maybe they needed you up there. We don't know why, but they needed you. Love you, filly. Vinyl sighed and wrapped her hooves around her marefriend. Outside, Celestia's sun lowered. Luna's moon appeared. The stars popped up one by one. That night, Vinyl notices a star that shone brighter than the others. She pointed it out to Octavia, and the grey mare smiled for the first time in a long time.
"You think that's her?" the cellist asked.
"I know it's her." Vinyl said, looking up at the sky. "I know it is."
Was it...? No, not possible. Octavia tsk-tsked to herself and let out a sigh, although her glance never left the wild DJ behind the turntables. She wouldn't admit it, but Vinyl looked sort of...
It's just the alcohol getting to you, Octavia. the grey mare told herself as she pushed away her drink. Speaking of which, last time I get dragged to a club.
She shook her head disapprovingly at the wild scene around her and though, in the middle of it... no. Again, not possible. Vinyl would never be... well, maybe in a rough sort of way... no. No.No.
The grey mare pushed her drink away. *That's* what was planting this false image in her brain. Vinyl Scratch was everything that Octavia was against. She was mean, coarse, and unrefined, whereas Octavia was polite, delicate, and one of the most respected ponies in Equestria. ...Although, maybe it was just the lights of the club that made Vinyl look... well, sort of... maybe kind of elegant? It was possible. After all, there was good in everypony, right? She'd only really known Vinyl a few months. Maybe - just maybe - there was something under that spikey blue mane and those sunglasses. Something sweet, and almost kind. Something Octavia hadn't seen before in the unicorn.
"Thank you, Manehatten!" Vinyl screamed into the microphone just as the final bass dropped - causing the entire crowd to cheer and go even more insane than before.
She can't be all rough, can she now? Octavia pondered. Even if she does portray herself in such a... uncouth manner.
Octavia clapped politely as Vinyl surrendered the turntables to the next DJ. The alabaster unicorn sat at the bar and grabbed Octavia's abandoned drink. Octavia glanced at the mare and felt her face grow hot. She turned away, tracing lines in the wood with her hoof.
"Something up, Tavi?" the unicorn questioned as she noticed her companion's lost and confused expression.
"It's hot in here." It was true, but that's not what was wrong. Octavia snatched her drink back from Vinyl, accidently touching her hoof in the process. Normally, Octavia would cringe. She never knew what Vinyl had been doing with that hoof. This time, however, Octavia just grabbed her drink and pulled it towards her.
"No, that's just me." the DJ joked, lowering her shades and playfully giving a wink.
Octavia stammered, whilst her thoughts buzzed about. Was Vinyl...? No. Again, absolutely impossible. She was always that way - it was just part of her rude manner, always cracking jokes like that.
"Lighten up, Tavi!" Vinyl said, giving her friend a shove. "Seriously, it's the busiest night of the year, and you're sitting here. Come on, we're gonna go dance." She grabbed the earth pony and pulled her onto the dance floor, where sweaty ponies were grinding their flanks against each other and the floor was a plethora of bright lights and sound.
"Vinyl, I don't think that-"
"Can't hear you, Tavi!" the DJ laughed over the blasting music and everypony's drunkenly insane shrieks.
The unicorn instantly hit it off with one of the other ponies on the dance floor. They bumped flanks, their manes flying around as they nodded their heads to the beat.
"Tavi, come on!" Vinyl called. She nudged the mare with her flank, trying to get Octavia to move around. Octavia, unused to such methods, reared back on her hind legs, knocking into a stallion.
"Watch it, gorgeous," the stallion said with a wink. He too nudged Octavia with his flank, and the mare stepped away, eyes wide.
"I... I, um..."
"You wanna dance with the hottest pony here?" He asked, his eyes gleaming. Octavia stepped back again and Vinyl came to the rescue.
"She'd love to." The unicorn smirked. "Let's go, Tavi." Vinyl pulled Octavia into the crowd, leaving the stallion looking confused.
"Th-thank you." the cellist stuttered, looking back for a moment - relieved - and when she glanced to Vinyl, Octavia could've sworn that... no, it really had to be the alcohol. There was no way in Tartarus that... well... maybe if you squinted...
Speaking of eyes, hers are exceptional. the earth pony mused.
Currently covered with sunglasses, the alabaster mare had some of the most interesting eyes Octavia had ever seen. Normally, the ponies eyes were magenta, but sometimes, if the unicorn was in a certain mood, her eyes were bright red. And to be honest, Octavia could never decide which color she liked best. The switch of color fit Vinyl well - the way she could be playful, and in other moments, more or less sometimes...
Quit it. the cellist scolded herself. Vinyl. Is. Your. Friend.
This sudden change in the way Octavia saw her friend was starting to worry her. She'd known Vinyl for months, but this was the first time she'd realized...
"Stop thinking about her like that!" Octavia said aloud. Vinyl gave her a look.
"Stop thinking about who like what?" Vinyl asked.
"Nopony. Let's just go back to dancing." Octavia said quickly.
"Tavi," the DJ replied. Was her tone serious for once...? No. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine." the grey mare snapped, accidentally sounding a bit too harsh.
"I think you've had enough of the party scene," Vinyl said, looking concerned for her friend. "C'mon, I'll take you home."
Octavia hesitated and let out a sigh. "Thank you." she murmured.
"No problem." the unicorn smiled.
Perhaps... maybe there was something there that I never did notice before. the cellist decided.
Octavia frowned and if she wasn't beckoning herself to stay quiet, she would have broken down in tears. The smell of alcohol and smoke lingering was literally heartbreaking to the cellist. She couldn't stay another moment - or her heart would be shattered even more than it already was. She loved that crazy disk jockey, really, she did, but now Vinyl was even more reckless than usual these days; if that was possible.
Taking a deep breath, the earth pony shook her head mournfully as she stuffed the last of her belongings in her suitcase, exiting the bedroom. She couldn't even attempt in saying farewell - it would hurt too much. She would end up giving in, like she had before...
...But not this time.
How much time had been spent following Vinyl around and making sure she was happy? Compare that to how much time had been spent focused on Octavia's career and happiness, and anypony could see why Octavia had to go.
Slinging her cello case on her back, the grey mare approached the door and placed her hoof on the doorknob, when all of a sudden, she heard a fumble from behind.
'Vinyl...'
"Tavi? Tavi, babe, where you going?"
Octavia's beautiful lavender eyes glossed over with tears, yet she blinked them back, refusing to look at Vinyl. If she turned back, she would see how torn and broken her lover would be, and that would only result in staying. She couldn't do that. She just couldn't.
"I'm sorry, Vinyl." the cellist said simply.
"Tavi?" Vinyl's voice shook. "Sorry about what? You're coming back, right? You always come back." The DJ's voice cracked on the last word. Octavia shut her eyes to keep away tears and to avoid looking at Vinyl.
"Not this time, Vinyl."
"Wha...whaddya mean?" the DJ muttered. "You... you can't leave me, Octy. I-"
"Don't say it." Octavia snapped. "Don't say it, Vinyl. You're probably still drunk, you don't mean it."
"I love you," Vinyl said softly. "Even if I am drunk, drunken words are sober thoughts... or whatever it is they say."
The earth pony wanted to believe that, but having been held up, tricked and broken by Vinyl one too many times said otherwise. It just wasn't possible.
"It's only true for some ponies." Octavia said sternly, opening the door, however she was tackled to the floor by the white unicorn, who pressed her lips against her lover's passionately and as much as the cellist wanted to melt in the kiss and stay, it wasn't possible.
Once the embrace broke, the grey mare flickered her gaze up and noticed Vinyl's normally magenta eyes had darkened to crimson - like they always did when she felt strong emotion. And saying no to that broken expression would just be...
"I can't stay any longer." Octavia whispered as the tears finally broke free. "We can't keep doing this."
"But we-"
"We what, Vinyl? Do you have any idea how much I've given up for you? And for what? For you to go around and... and sleep with other ponies, or get high, or drunk, or whatever else it is you do!"
Vinyl's eyes filled with tears and she swallowed, staring Octavia face to face. "I'm addicted, Tavi. I'm sorry. I bucked up my life years ago and I can't fix it... but I've never cheated on you. Not once. I drink and smoke at home. I've never done it outside of here, because I don't wanna take that chance of ending up in bed with some pony that isn't you."
"How can I believe that?" the cellist muttered.
"Because it's the truth, Tavi!"
"I can't do this anymore, Vinyl. I've been wasting my life here in this hole to make you happy."
"Is that all our relationship was, Tavi? A waste?"
The question made the earth pony freeze. Was all of it a true waste? ...There was the beginning - the perfect moments - but those memories were far away and too distant to grasp.
...And without another word, with tears in her eyes, Octavia left, slamming the door behind her, breaking both Vinyl's heart, and her own, in the process.
'I once loved you, Vinyl Scratch, but it seemed that what's past is past.'
Vinyl stared out the window of her single apartment, watching the rain pour. She thought of Octavia, happy with a new mare. The alabaster unicorn slammed the window with her hoof, cringing as the flimsy glass splintered beneath her hoof.
Cursing under her breath, the DJ whimpered and did nothing for her injury as she glanced outside, with the screen now being the only shield to prevent from the precipitation entering her home. She'd fix the window, and herself, later. The pain in her foreleg was nothing compared to the one in her heart.
How could she have let Octavia go? The grey mare had been the best thing that ever happened to her. Now, she was one of those lifeless ponies, sitting around feeling sorry for herself....well, to be honest, Vinyl was always that way - but when Octavia came into her life, everything changed.
She'd been happy. She didn't act it, but she'd been so very happy.
That cellist had turned Vinyl into an absolutely different pony... in the best way possible. And yet, like the saying goes, it didn't last forever.
Vinyl sighed, remembering the day everything had fallen apart.
"Tavi, listen to me-"
"No!" Octavia spat, her tone of voice practically spewing venom. "What? What is it, Vinyl? Some lame excuse you think I'm dumb enough to believe?!"
"I love you!" Vinyl shouted. Octavia scoffed.
"That's why you treat me like a marefriend, right? That's why you do all the things marefriends are supposed to do, right?"
She spewed sarcasm, and it definitely wasn't her usual playful type. It was the literal kind, that tore into Vinyl's heartstrings.
"Listen, Tavi, I'm sorry, really, I-"
"No."
"But, please, just lemme-"
"I said, no." Octavia declared, as tears began to form in her beautiful lavender eyes.
"You've spent maybe an hour with me this entire week. Admittedly, that's twenty minutes more than last week, but that isn't enough, Vinyl."
"What?" Vinyl raised an eyebrow and tried to play it off all cool-like, but alas... "Nooo, no way. I mean, seriously, besides, cut me some slack, y'know? The club's making me work extra and-"
"I believe I've cut you enough slack." the cellist snapped.
"We knew this would be hard..."
"I didn't think 'hard' meant being alone every night." Octavia replied irritably. "You haven't been home in time for bed in quite some time now."
"Do you know what it's like? Lying in bed all alone, just waiting for the one you love to be there? And," a single tear fell yet she refused to break down. "You realize that the way they treat you - it seems almost like they don't even return the feelings?"
Vinyl blinked slowly and fumbled over her words. "Tavi, listen, I really do love you, I swear. I know I can seem like a jerk sometimes, but c'mon, it's not like we can have this whole Happily Ever After junk, y'know?"
Octavia wiped her tears and let out a sniffle. "I never said I wanted that." she declared. "But to have somepony there for me, at my concerts, or to hold me close at night, or take me out once in a while, that's all I wanted, Vinyl." Her expression turned to stone and she shook her in disbelief. "But it looks like you can't even give me so much as that."
Vinyl thought about Octavia in the hooves of somepony else, dancing and having a good time.
Tears brimmed the DJ's crimson eyes and she let out a light sniffle. If only she could turn back time and make it all ok...
Vinyl looked at the bouquet of dead roses that she had never sent to Octavia. The unicorn wondered if Octavia's new special somepony would buy her flowers. She wondered if Octavia was out with them right now, holding hooves on a park bench. Vinyl died at the thought that this new pony was doing all the things she should have done when she had the chance.
"Stupid." she muttered to herself. "Stupid, stupid, stupid."
There were lots of idiotic and reckless things Vinyl had done in her life... but letting Octavia go had to have been the worst.
Vinyl picked up the dead roses with her magic and concentrated. It was quicker this time, the flowers blooming back to life. Vinyl attached a card with Octavia's name printed on the front. This time she would send them. This time, Octavia would get the flowers Vinyl should have given her ages ago.
...She would probably never respond, or even so much as throw the flowers out the second she knew who they were from, but at least it would erase a part of Vinyl's guilt.
She carried the flowers in her magic aura and carried them all the way to the post office.
"Can I deliver these to Octavia Philharmonica?" the unicorn asked the pony at the counter.
With a raised eyebrow, the pony working the counter let out an annoyed sigh, flipping throughout the files. "I can't find anypony under that last name," they muttered. "You sure you're talkin' 'bout the right mare?"
"Of course I am," Vinyl said simply. "She might also be under Octavia Melody...?"
"I got an Octavia Horseshoepin here. She lives up in the Canterlot Hills, near the Main Line," the worker let out a low whistle and chuckled. "Got herself a nice mansion too."
The DJ's heart dropped. So, Tavi was up there, with riches and anything at her hoof's wave, was she? ...Well, there wasn't any worry that Octavia wasn't being treated properly.
"I'll send these there then, if I can." Vinyl placed the flowers on the counter and the pony behind the register raised an eyebrow.
"You know she's retired, right? She hasn't taken any fan gifts in a while."
"It's not a fan gift. She's an old friend," Vinyl clarified. The mailpony shrugged and slid a sheet of paper towards the unicorn. Vinyl took a pen in her magical hold and wrote but a few simple words:
'I'm so sorry.
Love, Vinyl.'
...that was all she could say, and truly, that was all that really mattered.
And honestly, Vinyl Scratch always thought she'd never have that. But somehow, in some way, she was granted with it. Today was going to be perfect... she hoped.
Today was the day she'd be getting married to the mare of her dreams, although, her nerves and emotions were all awry.
She was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but at the same time, her heart felt as light as a feather, feeling as if she could practically fly down the aisle (despite the lack of wings).
She had been waiting for a moment... no, for a mare like this her entire life.
Octavia was just... perfect. In every way possible.
And now was not the time to chicken out - even if every cell in her body was telling the unicorn to strip off her tux and run out, screaming at the top of her lungs.
Sure, she was young, but that didn't mean she hadn't struggled, and loved, and lost to finally realize what was right.
She knew that this wasn't going to be a mistake.
All the heart break in the past was nothing now
The music started up and Vinyl held her breath. Any second now and.... there she was. Octavia began her walk down the aisle, her dress fluttering lightly as she walked.
And while everypony else also had their gazes upon her, Vinyl knew very well that in only a few short minutes, with only a few simple words, everything would be changed and it wouldn't be their lives any longer...
It would be their life.
Together.
The music slowed and Octavia was beside Vinyl, a smile on the grey mare's face.
Overwhelmed by how beautiful her bride looked, the DJ almost stumbled as she stepped forward to slowly lift Octavia's veil, and as she did so, Vinyl felt like as if she was looking at a completely new mare.
Her Tavi was secluded, shy, modest... but this Octavia was rather more bold, and confident, completely sure of herself.
This day was indeed perfect.
"Fillies and gentlecolts," the officiator announced boldly, immediately shushing everypony's murmurs. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the matrimony ceremony between Vinyl Record Scratch and Octavia Aria Philharmonica. Seeing how the couple has written their own vows, who will go first?"
"I will," Octavia quickly replied, as the slightest of blushes crossed her muzzle.
Clearing her throat and looking up for her lavender eyes to meet Vinyl's magenta ones, the cellist released a deep breath. "Vinyl, I'll admit, when I first met you, I thought you were just some trashy street mare - somepony I'd never in a million years affiliate myself with. You were loud, wild, bossy... everything I wasn't." Her smile widened a little and she let out a low chuckle. "I suppose that's why I found myself shocked when I realized that I was attracted to you. But somehow, in my torn life, where I was always lost and misplaced, I had finally felt a connection with one who was completely different. You were - and still are - foalish, while I am mature. You take the free fall without thinking twice, but I think too much. You aren't afraid to speak your mind, and I'm always the one to hold back my thoughts."
Not a single expression wasn't melted by the romanticism of the whole scene.
"But, now... I'm not." Octavia declared, with a proud smile. "And so, Vinyl Record Scratch, I am proud to call you my partner. For now and forever."
Vinyl swallowed the lump in her throat and looked at her beautiful almost-wife. Compared to what Octavia had just said, Vinyl felt that her vows were so much less heartfelt. Inhaling deeply, Vinyl stared into the lavender eyes in front of her.
"Octy," she began, feeling that her nickname for the mare would be more fitting. "When I met you, I was broken. We all saw the magazines. I'd been with more ponies than they cared to count, and none of them worked out. I thought...well, I thought I wasn't meant to be happy. Then I met you. Once you were in my life, nothing else mattered. I'm not the smartest of ponies, but I know this much- I was meant to find you and fall in love with you. I love you, Octavia Aria Philharmonica. More than anything in all of Equestria, I love you."
And even though the unicorn's words were simple, they were precise, and with the two mares' sudden declaration of love for one another, it prompted practically everypony in the room to break out their tissues or cameras to capture this beautifully heartwarming moment.
Then, the officiator levitated over the small pillow that held the two necklaces and cleared their throat, "And so, do you, Vinyl Scratch, take this mare, Octavia Philharmonica, to be your lawfully wedded wife - to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, 'til death do you part?"
"I do," Vinyl declared, without the slightest twinge of doubt in her voice as she took the silver necklace of the two and placed it carefully around Octavia's neck, with the golden band handing from it standing out perfectly.
"And do you, Octavia Philharmonica, take this mare, Vinyl Scratch, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to-"
"I do." Octavia suddenly blurted out, prompting a sudden blush to form across her cheeks, and smiles grew even wider throughout the crowd as everypony watched her almost clumsily placed a golden necklace that had a silver band hanging from it around Vinyl's neck.
A moment of silence passed only before the officiator spoke up. "If anypony does not believe that these two mares should be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace."
As it should be, there was absolute quiet.
The anticipating sort of quiet.
One that nopony could stand.
"I now pronounce you mare and wife. You may now kiss."
-xoxo-
Octavia nuzzled Vinyl's neck and the unicorn tightened her hold on the sleeping mare. In the years they had been married, they'd been through a lot. After all, what was marriage without fights or threats of divorce? They'd gotten through it all, together. Vinyl pressed her lips against Octavia's slightly wrinkled forehead. The earth pony complained about the wrinkles endlessly, but Vinyl never failed to assure her wife that she was still as beautiful as she had been the day they met.
"Nana Vinyl, Harmony and Operetta won't let me have a turn with Nana Octy's cello!" a little voice said as it stumbled into the room.
"Did you ask nicely, Vibrato?" Vinyl asked the filly. Vibrato looked up at her grandmother and nodded, her lavender eyes wide. Vinyl smiled. Octavia's eyes had skipped a generation, but all three of their grandfillies had the same bright lavender eyes that Vinyl had fallen in love with.
"Well, I guess you'll just have to play with Nana Vinyl's turntables instead, right, V?" The filly's eyes went wide. Vinyl never let anypony touch the old turntables.
"Really?" Vibrato asked, blowing her long black and blue mane out of her face.
"Sure, kiddo. You know where they are, right?" The pale grey unicorn filly was already bolting from the room, teasing her sisters as she ran to Vinyl's old workroom. Before too long, two more unicorn fillies were stumbling over each other trying to get to Vinyl.
"I wanna play with the turntables too!" the soft purple one cried, her red mane sticking up in places.
"Yeah, that's not fair!" the white one said, stamping her hoof. Vinyl ruffled her choppy black mane and laughed.
"Then you should have let Vibrato have a turn with the cello."
In unison, the two stubborn fillies crossed their forehooves and pouted, which prompted Vinyl to chuckle once more.
Never did she ever think, in all of her wildest dreams, that one moment, one day, and one certain mare could lead her down the road to pure happiness...
High School. The make it or break it year. The year where one choice could put you at the center table in the lunch room or sitting by the trashcans. The 'best years of your life' that are only really great if you secure a spot with the in-crowd. The years of emotional scarring. The years you find out who you really are.
Vinyl Scratch was starting High School with little expectations. She knew who she was. Everybody knew who she was. She was Vinyl Scratch, the lesbian. Not the aspiring musician. Not the killer DJ. No, she was the lesbian. Her summer had gotten off to a crappy start when she came out to her friends online. The amount of friends she had slowly fell, until her 1,473 turned into a little over fifty. She didn't care, of course, but when the death threats started pouring in, she was a bit annoyed.
Now, she was at school. Canterlot High. Their motto was Love and Tolerate, but the glares she was getting as she walked to 'History of Music Theory' class were more along the lines of Hate and Murder.
Their glares were so dark, so heavy and they were burning enough to melt steel. However, with her headphones plugging her into the world of punk rock, Vinyl kept her shades on and refused to glare back as she slumped into a random seat.
There was an index card on her desk, with the word "DYKE" scribbled on it.
She could've sworn that she felt tears prick at her eyes, but instead, she just tore it in half and let it fall onto the floor.
She didn't need this. Four years of endless teasing over something she couldn't control? People were filing in around her, taking their seats and laughing about something that happened over the summer. Guys were chest bumping and talking loudly about football season. Girls screamed and hugged their friends. Some of them talked about celebrities. Some of them cried that they hadn't seen each other “in like, three whole months!”. Vinyl just sunk lower into her seat. Her old best friend, a sophomore named Neon Lights, sat on the opposite side of the room, refusing to look directly at her.
"Nice to know our ten years of friendship was so important," Vinyl muttered under her breath.
The bell rang and everyone settled down as the teacher walked in. Vinyl zoned her out instantly. She took out her pen and sketched a music note on her left wrist. It was backwards, but she didn't care. It looked cool. She was even able to ignore the fact that the desks around her were all empty, as though the class had moved their assigned seats just to avoid her.
There was a bang and a girl with long black hair stepped inside, looking out of breath and horrified.
"Is this Music Theory?" She asked, breathing heavily.
"You must be the transfer student, right?" The teacher asked kindly. The girl did have an accent. The newbie nodded and the teacher made a note on her clipboard. "You can sit in any of the seats over there by Miss Scratch."
"And while you're at it, why don't you introduce yourself?"
The girl hesitated, giving a half smile as she twirled a lock of hair around one of her fingers nervously. "Of course," she assured, looking to the class. "Hello everyone, my name's Octavia and I'm from Townsville." An awkward silence happened, and everyone stared at her, only before she lightly blushed in embarrassment, rushing to a seat and sitting right next to Vinyl.
People whispered to themselves as Octavia set her bag down beside her chair. The new girl smiled at Vinyl, who was too shocked to smile back. She returned to doodling on her wrist, trying to think of a response. She didn't want to grow attached. Someone would tell this girl about the lesbian thing after class, and Octavia would have her desk moved too. There was no point in being nice to her.
Still... that kinda didn't prevent Vinyl from staring.
Thankfully, her shades didn't make it noticeable, but the fact she had ridiculously pale skin didn't help the fact she was slightly blushing as she gazed over this Octavia girl.
She was kinda cute, even if she seemed preppy - from her expensive-looking designer formal suit, to the way nothing about her looked flawless at all. And her eyes, they were sparkling more than any other star.
Through the colored lenses of her glasses, Vinyl could make them out as a sort of dark violet.
She was about to smile, until she felt someone behind her shove her hard, causing the punk rocker to fall forward, facedesking - causing the smack of her forehead against the desk to echo through the silent classroom.
"Ow," she muttered under her breath.
The classroom erupted with laughter.
"Are you alright?" Octavia asked. Before Vinyl could respond, Octavia had turned on Vinyl's tormentor.
"What is the matter with you? Attacking someone unprovoked? What, you think just because you have a letterman jacket, it makes it okay to knock somebody around? A girl no less!"
"Her? She ain't anybody. She's a dyke, ain't ya, Vinyl?"
"I-" Vinyl hesitated, looking to the beautiful girl who was looking at her in concern, checking to see if she was ok. "Y-yeah. I am."
She sniffled, and gently wiped the bit of blood trickling down her lip.
Great, she had a nose bleed from that asshole.
"Your point?" Octavia shot back. "And I'm not the smartest of young women, but I'm pretty sure that the correct term for the word you're looking for is lesbian."
The jock laughed, and smirked, sitting back in his chair coolly. "Hey, take it easy, hot stuff," he said breezily. "Someone as sick as her ain't worth defending."
Vinyl bit back a growl, running a hand through her hair in frustration. Oh, what she wouldn't give to punch that loser's lights out…
"Sick?" Octavia looked annoyed, yet slightly amused. "But, you shoved her, did you not?"
"Yeah, because she's a dyke."
"So you came into contact with her."
"Uh, yeah. The point?"
"I'm terribly sorry," Octavia said, winking at Vinyl. "But this illness is contracted through contact. I regret to inform you that you have suddenly caught the gay."
The jock rolled his eyes, and scoffed. "Yeah, and you have cooties," he remarked. "I'm not freakin' stupid. So why don't you sit your pretty little self down and ignore it?"
"How could I ignore someone getting bullied for no reason?!" Octavia spat, now fully annoyed.
"What's goin' on back there?!" the teacher called, and suddenly, the entire room was staring at the trio.
However, Octavia was quick to speak up, pointing to the jock. "This young man - or should I say, child has purposely inflicted injured on this poor girl here," she declared, gesturing to Vinyl, who was hanging her head in shame and hiding the blood on her face.
"Shut up," Vinyl hissed to Octavia, but the new girl ignored her.
"I was told that I was moving to one of the best schools in the country. I wasn't aware that the school permitted violence against others."
"Shut up!" Vinyl said again, a little louder. "It's fine, really. It's not that bad. It's just a nose bleed. Just… just ignore it."
Octavia raised an eyebrow, and hesitated, as she gently took a handkerchief from her coat pocket, holding it out to Vinyl. "No one deserves to be bullied, though," she assured.
Maybe it was just the lighting of the classroom, or the light dizziness from her injury, but Vinyl could've sworn she saw Octavia smile right at her.
"I know how you feel," she added, only before sitting back down.
"You? Yeah, right. Regulation hottie, witty, confident… you were probably Queen of your old school, I bet."
"Far from it," Octavia said, a half-smile on her face.
Vinyl was slightly taken aback by the comment, but even more so by the fact that the new girl paid no mind to the issue Vinyl had slipped up and told her she was hot. Any other girl probably would've ignored the comments and chewed her out for her mistake.
"We'll talk after class?" Octavia asked.
The teacher was passing out textbooks and Vinyl nodded once without hesitation. So far, things were working out.
"Yeah, and you can sit with me at lunch too.... uh, if you want." Vinyl realized that she would most likely be sitting near the trashbins. The music-table wouldn't want her around.
"That sounds lovely." Octavia smiled again. She smiled a lot.
That was another thing Vinyl was going to have to add to her ever-growing list of things she liked about this new girl...
...and she hoped that there would be many more things.
~ x o x o ~
As expected, the rest of the day went as good as someone in Vinyl's shoes could get. Shoved in a few lockers, one or two "KICK ME" signs were taped to her back and some loser had broken her glasses.
So now, the only upside of this day so far was hopefully sitting with Octavia.
She'd seen the new girl in the halls a few times. Octavia had always waved to her as she passed, which made Vinyl's day slightly better, even though Octavia was talking to a couple of the girls Vinyl couldn't stand. During the day, Vinyl heard Sunset Shimmer going on and on about how things were when she was new. Neon Lights was bragging about his internship on some radio show. Flash Sentry, who was hand in hand with Sunset Shimmer, was laughing at some joke Octavia had told.
At this rate, Vinyl was starting to worry that Octavia would prefer their company over her own. When the lunch bell rang, setting Vinyl free from French, she was afraid that she would see Octavia sitting in the throne of the cafeteria. She was more than surprised when she saw Octavia standing by the door of the lunchroom.
"I didn't know where you sat." She said, seeing the look on Vinyl's face. Vinyl blinked twice and smiled.
"I sit… uh..." she looked at the table with her old friends. Flash was sitting on the table, strumming his guitar. One of the girls was singing as he played. Vinyl knew she'd be kicked out if she went and joined them. "Over here," Vinyl led Octavia to an empty table.
They sat down, across from one another and there was an odd silence between the two, only before Vinyl cleared her throat. "So, do you like Canterlot so far?" she asked.
"It's nice," Octavia replied. "Not what I'm quite used to, but I suppose I'll adjust."
"How long have you been here?" Vinyl pondered.
"About a week," the other girl said breezily. "But I've visited before."
"Is Townsville nice?"
"It's small, but I suppose it's alright." Octavia shrugged.
"I can't wait to get out of here. Four more years, and I'll be free to go where I wanna go, and nobody's gonna be around to..." Vinyl trailed off.
"To slam your head into a desk?" Octavia supplied.
"Yeah… that."
She let out a sigh, and looked down, rubbing the bridge between her nose thoughtfully, slightly wincing as a momentary shock of pain shivered down her spine from the earlier incident. Damn jocks.
"Pardon my intrusion, but... has this ever happened to you before?" Octavia asked hesitantly.
"Nah," Vinyl replied. "I kinda came out over the summer - and I've been getting hell for it ever since."
Octavia hesitated, and cocked her head to the side. "Well, for someone who's been bullied for who they are, you say it so easily," she pointed out.
"I don't let things bother me," Vinyl explained. "I try not to, anyway. It's really not that bad." She shrugged, in an almost nonchalant manner. "I mean, it could be worse. It's mostly online and crap."
"You're taking this remarkably well," Octavia said. "There are some people who move schools they're so ashamed of the torment."
"Move schools? Really?"
"I'm surprised you haven't heard about it," the new girl murmured, now suddenly a bit more quiet as she gently reached up and adjusted her bowtie. "It's quite common."
Vinyl raised an eyebrow. "I... guess I need to stay in the loop more," she said simply.
Octavia nodded. "You should," she smiled. "It's good to know what to stand up for, and how to defend yourself."
"You seem to know a lot about those things," the punk rocker muttered, slightly envious of her almost new friend's confidence.
"I always wasn't," the other girl responded. "In fact, I was once just like you - a little freshman, out of the closet, afraid and getting bullied." She elegantly pushed her hair over one shoulder, and smiled. "Now, I easily speak up for myself, and others, if they need help."
"That's nice of you," Vinyl mused, with a smile - only before her expression quickly contorted into confusion. "Wait, did you say-?"
Octavia chuckled, with another nod. "I told you, I know how you feel," she clarified. "Huh," Vinyl said. "I didn't think you meant that literally,"
"Yes, well, when I first realised it, I didn't want to tell anybody. I was hiding from myself, and it made everything worse when I eventually came out. Now, I make sure I let people know. I figure, if I'm confident, and don't let it get to me, I can rise above it and people will drop the issue."
"That's... actually some really great advice," the punk rocker said slowly.
Octavia smiled her sweet smile again, as she replied, "I'm glad you think so."
Vinyl returned the grin, letting out a relieved sigh. Finally, someone at this school cared - and knew how she felt. She wasn't totally alone, or an outcast or a freak. It wasn't weird to be who she was, it was normal. She had Octavia by her side now. She didn't have to worry about having her face slammed into desks, or being shoved against lockers.
She smiled at her new friend, and the girl returned the smile, her eyes twinkling. They'd only known each other for a day, but Vinyl was sure she'd found someone who would be there for her through anything.
"So," Vinyl said slowly. "How about later, after school, you and me go hang in the music room? If... that's your thing."
What with the pink treble clef pin on her suit, and a golden sheet music pendant necklace, it was only a fair assumption Octavia was into music as well.
"Is that allowed? My old school had strict rules about after school activities."
"We'd just have to look like we're playing instruments. I'm not into the whole instrument thing, but they usually let me take my laptop in and remix. You could..." it occurred to Vinyl that she had no idea if the girl even played an instrument.
"Do they have any cellos, or violins or something?" Octavia asked. Vinyl nodded.
"Think so. You could always ask Flash to borrow his guitar. He's usually there too. I myself play an mean air guitar," she joked.
Octavia giggled, and the laugh couldn't help but make Vinyl smile a sort of smile she hadn't bestowed in quite some time. It was pure, it was true and it made her heart warm.
Maybe this school year wouldn't be so bad after all…
Octavia rolled her eyes as Vinyl went on and on about the mare she was oh-so-in-love with. This was the fourth mare in four days that Vinyl swore she was going to marry. As much as it hurt to listen to Vinyl blabber on and on about the astounding beauty of other ponies, it had become quite easy to not take her seriously.
For her friend's sake, Octavia was trying to pay attention, giving the occasional smile and nod, to keep Vinyl smiling. However, it was fuel to the fire of her rant.
"Are you even listening?"
"Of course I am!" Octavia lied quickly.
"Then what's her name?" Vinyl asked. Octavia hesitated. Was it Snappy Scoop? No, that was three days ago. High Spirits? No, she had moved back to Cloudsdale.
"Sunny Rays?" Octavia tried. Vinyl groaned.
"You weren't paying attention at all, were you?"
"Vinyl, you fall in love every other week. How am I supposed to keep up?"
"Well, you're my best friend," the unicorn mumbled. "I thought you would be happy for me, that's all."
"Where in that conversation did I say I wasn't happy for you? I'm always happy for you, when you're happy." It was partially true. She wanted Vinyl to be happy, of course, but she wanted Vinyl to be happy with her, not somepony else. "What's her name, Vinyl?"
"Lyra Heartstrings." Vinyl perked up, now that the conversation had returned to the object of her affections.
"She's in our Music Theory class, you know? She sits behind you, actually. She's so cute!"
"You mean the weird unicorn who rambles on about the other creatures?" Octavia questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Vinyl rolled her eyes. "It's fascinating, Tavi," she protested. "Not weird. She's scientific and is curious about the worlds beyond Equestria. I mean, she's pretty and smart and she likes music! Why would I not like her?"
"Have you ever actually talked to her?"
"Of course I have. I asked her for a pen yesterday, and today, I told her I liked her manecut."
Octavia held back the urge to facehoof. Then again, she could give Vinyl some slack on that one. Not only was their class harsh, but she was reluctant to introducing herself to ponies one at a time. She was better with crowds, always had been. Still, this was a repetitive thing - she never got to know her crush. Ever.
"Does she even know your name?" Octavia asked.
"Yeah!" Vinyl said, with a wide smile. "She even gave me a cute nickname, she calls me Vinnie! Isn't that adorable?"
"That's... that's great, Vinyl." It was hard for her to find enthusiasm this time around.
She looked into her tea, and idly stirred the spoon around, as Vinyl pushed up her glasses, continuing on with her rambling.
"You know, maybe if I ask her out, you could take that coltfriend of yours out and we could double date," she offered, levitating her macaroon off of the plate and taking a bite of it.
Octavia let out a groan. "Vinyl, Frederic is not my coltfriend," she mumbled.
Vinyl's raspy laughter echoed throughout the small university coffeehouse, and she shook her head playfully. "Ok, Tavi, whatever you say," she teased.
"I'm serious," Octavia argued, as she picked up her mug and took a sip of her now cold beverage.
If only you knew, she thought.
"Tavi, you and that stallion never do anything apart!"
"He's my friend. I am allowed to have friends outside of you, Vinyl."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Vinyl said, with a roll of her eyes. However, she immediately brightened up as she noticed a certain somepony enter the cafe. "Oh my gosh, it's her!" Suddenly, she got loud - like always. "Hey! Heartstrings! Get over here!"
Octavia turned her head and, sure enough, the mint unicorn in question was approaching their table.
"Hey, Vinnie! And this must be Octavia! Vinnie has told me so much about you!" She stuck out a hoof, and Octavia hesitated before touching her hoof to Lyra's.
"It's lovely to meet you, Lyra. Vinyl has told me just as much about you."
"Has she?" Lyra smiled.
Well, Octavia couldn't deny what Vinyl had said - Lyra was sort of pretty. Her voice rang out like a bell. And even though she was here for only a few seconds, she already had her gaze plastered on Vinyl, looking at her almost lovingly.
"Y'know, I've been meaning to get to know you both," she spoke up. "I mean, you seem so interesting."
Vinyl let out a nervous laugh, and a blush that matched the color of her eyes spread across her cheeks. "Aw, c'mon, Heartstrings, we both know you're the interesting one," she remarked.
Octavia wanted to puke. This was sickening.
"Please, everypony and their mother plays the lyre these days. I'm as far from interesting as it gets. But cellos and turntables, now that is something to be admired. In fact, I was kinda thinking about going into theatre, you know? I mean, I could bring it back into style, just like with my foreign creature studies."
Vinyl nodded. "Have you figured out the name for those things?" she questioned.
Lyra shook her head. "Not yet," she replied. "I mean, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I have all of the info - did you know that they eat meat?" She wrinkled her nose and shuddered. "Don't get me wrong, I find them fascinating, but sometimes, they're disturbing."
This sight before me is disturbing, Octavia thought, as she bit her lip, and picked up her saddlebags, getting out of her seat.
"Hey, Tavi, where ya going?" Vinyl asked.
"I have a final to study for," the earth pony said. It wasn't a total lie - the test wasn't for another few weeks, but anything to get away from this.
Vinyl frowned. "Aw, but-"
She was cut off by Lyra, who let a light squeal. "By the way, Vinnie, didn't you say that you did theatre when you were a filly? We should totally sign up for the class together!" she interrupted.
Octavia gave a small smile that felt forced and turned around, walking off to leave the other ponies in peace.
They wouldn't miss her after a while. They would be too caught up in whatever conversation they started having. Octavia didn't mind too much. Sure, it was a bit unfortunate that she couldn't have Vinyl to herself, but at least she didn't have to watch the yuck-fest that was Vinyl mooning over Lyra.
Octavia stepped out of the cafe, and began walking along campus, towards the dorms, when all of a sudden, she felt raindrops falling on her head. Oh, how wonderful. This couldn't get any worse, could it?
She figured the best she could do was go back to the dorm and wait for Vinyl to come back. After all, she couldn't exactly go anywhere else with this rain.
Octavia let out a groan, and dashed back to the cafe, standing underneath the awning. However, her curiosity took the best of her, and she couldn't help but look through the window... and her heart broke at what she saw.
There was Vinyl and Lyra, sitting in the booth, laughing and smiling, happier than ever.
The rain was picking up. Too late to go back to the dorm. The view inside was like a trainwreck. Horrible, but she couldn't tear her eyes from the sight. She couldn't help but wish that was her in that seat. Of course, it never would be, would it? Vinyl was, simply put, the most oblivious pony out there. She couldn't have possibly known how Octavia felt. Even if she did, the silly unicorn was hung up on Lyra. She wouldn't look away for two seconds.
Octavia released a sigh and wiped her cheeks.
...she wasn't sure if they were raindrops or tears.
